James 2:14-26 14 What
good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no
deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a
sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to
them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their
physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself,
if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have
deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you
my faith by my deeds.19 You believe that there is one God. Good!
Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith
without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered
righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You
see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith
was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled
that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and
he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered
righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute
considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and
sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the
spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NRSV)
By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own
doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works.
We receive eternal life because we are God’s children
through faith in Christ. We do good works because we appreciate all God has
given to us and want others to be blessed as we are.
Thought for today:
How do I show God my love?
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